Projectile and target game

ABSTRACT

A game of skill is disclosed where two teams of one or more players take turns trying to bounce disc-shaped projectiles through an opening in the top wall of the opposing side&#39;s generally wedge-shaped target. Points are scored when a projectile lands on the top wall of the target or goes through the opening in the top wall and lands within the target.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/288,265 filed Dec. 18, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to games of skill, in particular gamesinvolving hitting targets with projectiles launched by hand where theobject of the game is land the projectile on the target or in an openingin the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A game of skill is disclosed where two teams of one or more players taketurns trying to bounce disc-shaped projectiles through an opening in thetop wall of the opposing side's generally wedge-shaped target. Thesewedge-shaped targets have a rectangular base and have either atriangular or rhomboid cross-section, as determined by the inclusion oromission of a front wall along the front short edge of the rectangularbase. The top wall is inclined and runs from a back wall rising from oneof the short edges of the rectangular base to either a shorter frontwall or directly to the short front edge of the rectangular base.

These wedge-shaped targets include an aperture that is preferablycircular in the top wall where the aperture is wider than thedisc-shaped projectiles. The wedge shaped targets may be hollow withwalls defined by every surface of the target or may have an openingdefined by the rectangular base or rear wall.

The game of skill is preferably sold as a kit comprising 2 targets and 8or more projectiles and is particularly well-adapted for tabletop playas two sides of one or more players take turns trying to bouncedisc-shaped projectiles through an opening in the top wall of theopposing side's target. Points are scored when a projectile lands on thetop wall of the target or goes through the opening in the top wall andlands within the target.

The projectiles and or the top wall may have surface treatments tolikelihood that a projectile will “stick” to the top wall of the targetand not bounce off.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 3 is a bottom offset view of an embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the game target;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the disc-shaped projectiles usedin the game; and

FIG. 6 is an elevated offset view of a preferred embodiment of the gametarget.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the game of skill disclosed by this application, each side has atleast one projectile 10 and one target 100. Preferably each side hasmore than one projectile 10. In the preferred embodiment the game isplayed between two sides each having one target 100 and four projectiles10.

Turning first to FIG. 5, each projectile 10 is preferably disc-shapedand may be made of plastic, wood, metal or any suitable material. Thetwo surfaces 20 of projectile 10 may either be smooth or may havesurface treatments such as gnurling, dimpling, or the like. In thepreferred embodiment, the projectiles are made from plastic. Thesesurface treatments could also include addition of another materialdesigned to increase the “grip” of the projectile such as rubber orsimilar materials.

As shown in a first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 3, target 100 is generallywedge-shaped and has a top wall 110 and two side walls 120. Target 100also has a base wall 130 and back wall 140. Base wall 130 rests on thetable surface. The borders of top wall 110 are defined by front edge170, back edge 180, and left side edge 190 and right side edge 195. Topwall 110 has an aperture 150 that is preferably equidistant between leftside edge 190 and right side edge 195 and set closer to back edge 180than front edge 170. Aperture 150 is wider than the diameter ofprojectile 10 and provides access to a space within the target definedby base wall 130, back wall 140, side walls 120 and top wall 110.

The target may have either a triangular or rhomboid cross-section asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 andFIG. 6, target 200 is defined by top wall 210, side walls 220, base wall230, back wall 240 and front wall 260. The height of the front wall 260,as measured by the distance between base wall 230 and top wall 210 alongfront wall 260, is considerably shorter than the height of the back wall240, as measured by the distance between base wall 230 and top wall 210along back wall 240. As a result of this height differential, top wall210 slopes downward back wall 240 to front wall 260.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the front wall is omittedentirely and top wall 110 slopes downward at an angle from the top ofback wall 140 until it connects to the base wall 130 at front edge 170.

Top wall 110 or 210 may be smooth or alternatively may be textured toprevent projectiles from bouncing off top wall 110 or 210 during gameplay. Target 100 or 200 is preferably molded from plastic, although itcan be made of any suitable material. Target 100 or 200 could also bemade with an open wall, that is back wall 140 or 240 or bottom wall 130or 230 could be omitted entirely.

As showing in FIGS. 4 and 5, aperture 150 or 250 is circular and islarger than the diameter of projectile 10. Preferably, the diameter ofaperture 150 or 250 is at least 20% greater than the diameter ofprojectile 10.

Preferably the center of aperture 150 or 250 is located approximatelyone-third of the distance between top edge 180 and bottom edge 170.

In the preferred embodiment, the game is played by two sides each havingone target 200 and four projectiles 10. A side may have one or moreplayers.

In the preferred embodiment, a projectile 10 is bounced or flipped offof the table surface a predetermined distance away from front wall 260of the target 200. Alternatively, projectile 10 could be lobbed from apredetermined distance away from target 100 or 200.

In the preferred embodiment, each side take turns bouncing a projectile10 towards its opponent's target 200. The objective of the game is tobounce the projectile off of the table surface (not shown) from apredetermined distance away so that it travels through the aperture 250and lands within target 200. Points are also scored when a projectilecomes to rest on the top wall 210 of the other team's target 200. In thepreferred embodiment, projectile 10 must be bounced off of a surface atleast 5 inches away from front wall 260.

One point is awarded when a projectile 10 comes to rest on the top wall110 or 210 of the opposing side's target. Three points are awarded whena side successfully bouncing a projectile 10 through the aperture 150 or250 so that the projectile lands within target 100 or 200.

At the conclusion of each round of four projectile throws for each side,the points are tallied and then offset such that only one side scorespoints and the other side scores zero. For example, if the first sidescores six points and the second side scores four points, the first sidewould receive two points total. The object of the game is to be thefirst side to score 21 points.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the top wall 210 isapproximately 7 inches long from the back wall 240 to front wall 260 andthe lateral distance across top wall 210 (the distance between sidewalls 220) is 3½ inches. In the preferred embodiment, aperture 250 isapproximately 1¼ inches in diameter and is centered equidistantlybetween side walls 220 and the top edge of aperture 250 is locatedapproximately 1½ inches from the intersection of top wall 210 and backwall 240. In the preferred embodiment, back wall 240 is approximately 1¾inches in height from base wall 230, front wall 260 is approximately ¼inch in height from base wall 230, and projectile 10 is approximately 1inch in diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the game is sold in a kitcomprising 2 targets 200 and 8 projectiles 10.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention maybe subject to variations and modifications other than those specificallydescribed. It is to be understood that the present invention encompassesall such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit andscope.

1. A game kit for a projectile and target game comprising at least onegenerally wedge-shaped target, said target having a rectangular base andan aperture in an inclined top wall defined by parallel long edges ofthe generally wedge-shaped targets' sides and at least one generallydisc-shaped projectile whose diameter is smaller than the aperture inthe inclined top wall.
 2. The game kit of claim 1 where the target has aback wall and a front wall rising perpendicularly from the short edgesof the rectangular base, the back wall being taller than the front wall,the top wall running at an downward incline from the back wall to thefront wall, and having side walls with a rhomboid appearance defined bythe rectangular base, top wall, front wall and back wall.
 3. The gamekit of claim 1 where the target has a back wall rising from one shortedge of the rectangular base, the top wall running at an downwardincline from the back wall to the other edge of the rectangular base,and having side walls with a triangular appearance defined by therectangular base, top wall, and back wall.
 4. The game kit of claim 2where the aperture is circular in shape.
 5. The game kit of claim 3where the aperture is circular in shape.
 6. The game kit of claim 4where the rectangular base defines a bottom wall.
 7. The game kit ofclaim 5 where the rectangular base defines a bottom wall.
 8. The gamekit of claim 2 where at least one of the projectile or target top wallhas a surface treatment.
 9. The game kit of claim 3 where at least oneof the projectile or target top wall has a surface treatment.
 10. Thegame kit of claim 6 where the kit includes at least two targets and atleast 8 projectiles.
 11. The game kit of claim 7 where the kit includesat least two targets and at least 8 projectiles.
 12. A projectile andtarget game comprising at least one generally wedge-shaped target havinga rectangular base having an aperture in an inclined top wall of thetarget and at least one generally disc-shaped projectile whose diameteris smaller than the aperture in the inclined top wall where the playerstake turns attempting to bounce said projectile into the aperture. 13.The projectile and target game of claim 12 where each side has its owntarget.
 14. The projectile and target game of claim 13 where each sidehas at least two projectiles.
 15. The projectile and target game ofclaim 14 where points are awarded if the projectile comes to rest on thetop wall or falls through the aperture into the target.
 16. Theprojectile and target game of claim 15 where more points are awarded forbouncing a projectile through the aperture than landing a projectile onthe target.
 17. The projectile and target game of claim 16, where eachplayer has 4 projectiles to bounce at their respective targets.